Shelving components

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a constructional component useful in forming shelving, framework and combinations thereof. By use of such constructional components, lightweight framework of any desired dimensions can be readily assembled by unskilled labor from a minimum number of standard sizes.

O Umted States Patent [151 3,643,607 MacKenzie 1 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] SHELVING COMPONENTS 2,441,721 5/1948 Schroeder ..211/135 X [72] Inventor: James Alexander MacKenzle, 70 gfi ""211/148 X Gloucester Street, Ottawa, Ontario 211/148 X Canada 2,935,210 5/1960 Cohen ..108/64 2,999,569 9/1961 Wilson 211/135 [22] Filed: Nov. 29, 1968 3,029,914 4/1962 Macomber... ..52/732 3,081,718 3/1963 Shofl'ner 211/148 X [21] 7795 3,110,371 11/1963 De Ridder ..s2/sss 3,243,930 4/ 1966 Slowinski ..52/732 X [52] U.S.Cl ..108/1ll,108/114,52/588,

211/148, 211/153 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel [51] Int. Cl. ..A47b 96/00 Attorney-Smart & Biggar [58] FieldofSearch ..108/59, 111, 114, 64;211/135,

211/153, 177, 148; 287/36 D; 52/732, 588 [57] ABSTRACT [56] Reerences Cited The present im ention provides a constructional component useful in forming shelving, framework and combinations UNITED STATES PATENTS thereof. By use of such constructional components, lightweight framework of any desired dimensions can be 1,933,394 10/1933 Shryock ..52/588 X readily assembled by unskined labor f a minimum number 2,640,669 6/1953 Ashford.... .....52/588 X f ta d -d Sizes 3,394,524 7/1968 Howarth... ..52/588 2,180,504 ..52/588 9 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 11/1939 Bradfield PATENTEDFEB 22 1912 SHEET 1 or 5 mvsmon JAMES A. MACKENZIE ATTORNEYS.

PAIENTEDFEB 22 1972 SHEET 2 OF 5 "mul INViNTOF? JAMES A. M/iCKEN 2! E ATTORNEYS.

PATENTE0FB22 I972 3.643.607

saw a or 5 F/GZ'9 INVENTOR JAMES A. MACKENZIE BY MWw/J 6 7%- ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDFEBZZ I972 3,643,607

SHEET u or 5 INVENTOR JAMES AMACKENZIE BY Maw/ ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEBFEB22 I972 SHEET 5 0F 5 INVENTOR JA ES A. MACKENZIE ATTORNEYS.

SHELVING COMPONENTS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, therefore, there is provided a constructional component in the form of a beam for use in forming shelving and/or framework which comprises an elongated strips having extending from the longitudinal edges thereof a pair of uniformly converging sides of equal dimension, each of which terminates in a web extending outwardly therefrom and which is parallel to and beyond the longitudinal edge of said elongated strip and a web extending towards the elongated strip from each outer edge and essentially at right angles to the outwardly extending web to form a retaining channel which is shallow as compared with the depth of said sides.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The components of the present invention are useful in combination with filler panels in the formation of shelving usually supported on a framework. The filler panels suitably comprise sheet material having at opposite ends thereof dependent flanges which are accommodated in each retaining channel of the constructional components of the present invention. It will be readily seen therefore, that the outwardly extending web forming the base of the retaining channel should extend beyond the longitudinal edge of the elongated strip by an amount sufficient to accommodate the lower edge of the dependent flange of the tiller panel whereby the panel is maintained horizontal. Desirably, the outwardly extending web forming the base of the retaining channel extends sufficiently beyond the longitudinal edge of the elongated strip to accommodate two vertical flanges of said tiller panels to allow for a filler panel to overly said components and thus eliminate the surface of said component as a supporting surface of the shelving and allow for flexibility in adjusting the dimensions of the shelving. To further allow for flexibility and adjustment of the dimensions of the shelving and in particular where it is required to increase the dimensions of the shelving by less than the width of a filler panel, it is possible by means of the components of the present invention to join the components in side-by-side relationship by means of the interlocking of their retaining channels. To this end, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the retaining channels of each components are of different dimensions such that the larger of the retaining channels on a first component can accommodate the smaller of the retaining channels on a second component with the elongated strip of said second components substantially coplanar with that of said first component. It will be seen that by interlocking the larger with the smaller retaining channels, a plurality of components can be interlocked thereby providing a wider composite constructional component which allows relatively small variations in the dimensions of the shelving and at the same time increases the strength of the shelving.

The components of the present invention are desirably pro vided in a minimum number of standardized sizes and in order to lengthen any of the standard sized components, a suitable coupling element may be provided which forms a pair of components suitably in end-to-end relationship. This coupling element desirably takes the form of a beam of the same configuration as the constructional component but of slightly smaller dimensions except for the retaining channels which are slightly larger so as to allow the constructional components to be joined to slide thereover.

The shelving formed with the constructional components of the present invention may be located on any suitable framework such as that formed by slotted angle and in particular that supplied under the trademark Structo, the shelving being suitably anchored to cross and side members of the framework by means of anchoring devices through the slots in the framework.

In a particularly desirable embodiment of the present invention, the framework on which the shelving may be located is also formed from the constructional components of the present invention.

Thus, the constructional components of the present inven tion may form the uprights and horizontal side members of a framework, the side members being fixedly held in abutment with the outwardly extending web of the uprights by means of corner brackets.

Further, in the framework formed from the constructional components of the present invention comprising uprights and side members extending between said uprights, it is possible to provide crossmembers extending between said side members with the elongated strips thereof at the same level by means of removable brackets in the ends of the crossmembers having a horizontal portion located beneath the elongated strip of each crossmember, a leg portion located in the retaining channel of each side member a pair of flanges extending from the vertical edges of said leg portion in the same direction as the horizontal portion and located in the retaining channels of each crossmember.

It will be readily realized that in order to accommodate shelving the constructional components of at least the side and cross members of the framework should have holes uniformly spaced along the elongated strip to allow the shelving to be bolted thereto. Furthermore, it is also desirable for the constructional components forming the shelving also to have holes uniformly spaced along the elongated strip to facilitate the bolting of the shelving to the framework. Furthermore, uniformly spaced holes in the elongated strip of the constructional component allows for the use of bolts in forming the framework for the purpose of increasing the rigidity and strength of the framework. Thus for instance, the former bracket referred to above may also contain boltholes which register with the holes in the uprights and side members thus allowing them to be bolted after assembly. It is also possible by means of the holes in the constructional components to bolt two or more components on top of each other to provide increased strength in the upright or side or cross members.

In order to provide an even face on the top of the elongated strips of the constructional components when bolts are present it is desirable that the holes in the elongated strips are located in a recess extending longitudinally along the elongated strip and this has particular application when the constructional component forms the shelving.

As will be readily apparent from the description of the constructional components of the invention above, the shelving and framework of the present invention may be used for purposes other than providing storage space. Hence, depending on the overall dimensions of the filler panels and the construetional components that may be used to form floors, in particu lar mezzanine floors and further, it will be readily appreciated that the side and cross members can be joined in cantilever fashion to form stairs, the tiller panels forming the treads of the stairs.

The present invention will be further illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded view in perspective showing shelving including the constructional component according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a detail showing one end of a constructional com ponent according to the invention resting upon a supporting framework,

FIG. 3 (which is located on the second page of the drawings), is an end view showing two constructional components according to the invention and a filler panel retained thereby,

FIG. 4 (which appears on the first sheet of the drawings), is a detail showing two constructional components according to the invention in side-by-side relationship,

FIG. 5 is a detail showing an end of a constructional component according to the invention including a coupling member,

FIG. 6 is a detail showing an anchoring device securing a constructional component according to the invention to a side or cross member of a framework,

FIG. 7 is a similar view to FIG. showing a constructional component according to another embodiment of the present invention having a configuration useful in forming framework,

FIG. 8 is an end view of a pair of constructional components according the present invention of different configuration in slidable relationship in FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 is the same as FIG. 8 except for the constructional elements being similar in configuration,

FIG. 10 is an end view showing a pair of constructional components of the present invention on top of one another and bolted together,

FIG. 11 is a detail showing the joining together of a constructional component forming an upright and a constitutional component forming a side member in a framework according to the present invention,

FIG. 12 is a detail showing the joining together of a constructional component forming a crossmember and a constructional component forming a side member in a framework according to the present invention, and

FIG. 13 is the same as FIG. 11 but includes the provision of bolts and a further constructional component bolted to the side member.

Referring firstly to FIG. 1, the shelving 11 is formed from a plurality of spaced constructional components 12 having filler panels 13 therebetween. Each constructional component 12 is in the form ofa beam formed from an elongated strip 14 having dependent sides 15 and 16 and retaining channels 17 and 18. The retaining channels 17 and 18 retain flanges 19 and 20 at the opposite ends of the filler panels 13. As is shown at the right-hand end of the figure, the beams 12 may be joined in end-to-end relationship for purposes of lengthening the beam by a coupling member 21, the retaining channel of which being the only part visible.

The shelving at one end thereof may be suitably supported on a crossmember 22 ofa framework as shown.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the beam 12 has shallow retaining channels 17 and 18 formed from horizontal webs 23 and 24 and vertical webs 25 and 26 which are themselves low as compared with the depth of the sides 15 and 16.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the framework 11 comprises a pair of spaced beams 12 supported by the crossmember 22 of a framework (not shown), the retaining channels 17 and 18 of which accommodate the flanges 19 and 20 ofa filler panel 13. As is shown in the dotted outlines the filler panel 13 may be arranged to overly either or both of the beams 12 thereby varying the distance between the outer edges of the beams 12 and thus allowing for adjustment ofthe surface area of the shelving 11. Filler panel 13 may also be arranged to overly just one of the beams 12.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a pair of beams 12 are disposed in side-by-side interlocking relationship, the smaller retaining channel 18 of one of the beams 12 interlocking with the larger retaining channel 17 of the other beam 12 which also retains in its other retaining channel 18, the flange 19 of the filler panel 13. It will be seen that there is only a very slight misalignment of the surface of the elongated strips 14 of the adjacent beams 12 which is of negligible significance.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a beam 12 is combined with a coupling member 21 which as will readily been seen, is of the same configuration as the beam 12, but is of smaller dimensions so as to have a slidable fit within the beam 12 except that the retaining channels 17 and 18 on the coupling member 21 are larger than those on the beam 12 so as to accommodate the retaining channels of the beam in sliding relationship. In a similar manner, a further beam 12 (not shown) slides onto the exposed end of the coupling member 21 and into end abutment with the first beam 12 to extend the length of the original beam 12.

Referring to FIG. 6, the beam 12 is suitably. bolted onto a slotted side member 22 by means ofa bolt 27 having a wedge 28, the bolt passing through a slot on the member 22 with the wedge 28 confined by the walls 15 and 16 of the beam 12. On tightening the bolt 27 by means of a nut 29, the wedge 28 forces the sides 15 and I6 apart against a shoe 30 located on the retaining channels 17 and 18 ofthe beam 12.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the beams 12 and coupling member 21 are similar to those shown in FIG. 5 except that they are provided in the horizontal strips 14 with boltholes 31 in longitudinally extending recesses 32. These beams are suitable as will be shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 as constructional components for frameworks.

Referring now to FIG. 8, this figure illustrates the two types of recesses 32 which may be formed in the elongated strips 14 of the beams 12 and shows that whichever type of recess 32 is present in the coupling member 21, and the beam 12, they will fit together in sliding relationship. Thus FIG. 8 shows dissimilar relationship and FIG. 9 shows similar relationship in respect of the recesses 32 in the beams 12.

Referring now to FIG. 10, two beams 12 are shown bolted together on top of one another by means of a bolt 33. the head of which is located in a recess 31 of the upper beam 12 and in order to avoid twisting of the beam 12 about the bolt, a fixing member 34 is located in the recess 31 of the lower beam 12 and extends into the upper beam 12 and is also retained by the bolt 33.

Referring now to FIG. 11, an upright constructional component 35 is joined with the horizontally extending webs 23 and 24 of the retaining channels 17 and 18 in abutment with the end of a constructional component forming a side member 36 by means ofa corner bracket 37 having lugs 38 and 39 extending through boltholes 31 in the upright 35 and the side member respectively. The corner bracket 37 also has further boltholes 40 which align with boltholes 31 in the side member and upright 35 to allow bolts 41 to be inserted there if desired for greater rigidity as will be seen from FIG. 13.

As will be seen'from FIG. 13, the constructional component forming the side member 36 may also carry a crossbeam 42 which is suitably bolted thereto with a bolt 43 through a bolthole therein.

- Referring now to FIG. 12, a side member 36 formed from a constructional component of the invention has a crossmember 44 extending therefrom with the upper surface of the horizontal strip 14 at the same level as that of the side member 36 means of a bracket 45. The bracket 45 comprises a horizontal portion 46 which locates on the under surface of the strip 14 of the crossmember 44 by means of a stud 47 and has a leg portion 48, the lower end of which 49 locates in the retaining channel 17 of the side member 36. The leg portion carries flanges 50 which locate against the horizontal webs of the retaining channels 17 and 18 of the crossmember 44.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A constructional component in the form of a beam for use in shelving or framework or both which comprises an elongated strip having extending from the longitudinal edges thereof a pair of uniformly converging sides of equal dimensions spaced from each other and unconnected at their ter minal edges, each of which terminates in a first web extending outwardly therefrom, parallel to and beyond the longitudinal edge of said elongated strip and which terminates in a second web extending toward the elongated strip, the first and second webs being at essentially right angles to each other to form retaining channels which are shallow when compared with the length of said sides, and wherein the length of at least one of the retaining channels is such that it extends beyond a line drawn at right angles to the longitudinal edge of the elongated strip by the thickness of the material of which the beam is made, so that the lower end of a dependent flange of a filler panel can be inserted downwardly and retained in said at least one retaining channel, with the upper end of the dependent flange in abutting relationship with the upper end of the adjacent converging side of the beam substantially at the adjacent longitudinal edge of the elongated strip.

2. A constructional component as claimed in claim 1 in which the retaining channels on each component are of different dimensions so that the larger retaining channel is sufficient to accommodate the smaller retaining channel of another constructional component in which the smaller retaining channel has the length specified in claim 1.

3. A component as claimed in claim 1 which contains uniformly spaced boltholes along the elongated strip thereof.

4. A component as claimed in claim 3 in which the boltholes are contained in a longitudinally extending recess in the elongated strip.

5. Shelving comprising a plurality of spaced constructional components as claimed in claim 1 and a plurality of filler panels having dependent flanges at the ends thereof, the lower ends of which are retained in the retaining channels of said constructional components.

6. Shelving as claimed in claim 5 which is bolted to a framework.

7. A framework comprising uprights and side members in which, the side members and uprights are formed from constructional components as claimed in claim 3 and in which the side members are fixed to the uprights by means of comer brackets.

8. A framework as claimed in claim 7 which includes crossmembers formed from the constructional component of identical type to those forming the side members and uprights,

the crossmembers extending between said side members at the same level as that of each side member and retained in position by means of removable brackets in the ends of the crossmembers, and brackets having a horizontal portion located beneath the elongated strip of said crossmember, a leg portion located in the retaining channel of the side member and a pair of flanges extending from the vertical edges of the leg portion and in the same direction as the horizontal portion located in retaining channels of the crossmember.

9. Shelving comprising a plurality of spaced constructional components as claimed in claim 2 and a plurality of filler panels having dependent flanges at the ends, the lower ends of which are retained in the retaining channels of the said constructional components, which includes two constructional components in side-by-side relationship, the smaller retaining channel on one component being accommodated in the larger retaining channel of the other component. 

1. A constructional component in the form of a beam for use in shelving or framework or both which comprises an elongated strip having extending from the longitudinal edges thereof a pair of uniformly converging sides of equal dimensions spaced from each other and unconnected at their terminal edges, each of which terminates in a first web extending outwardly therefrom, parallel to and beyond the longitudinal edge of said elongated strip and which terminates in a second web extending toward the elongated strip, the first and second webs being at essentially right angles to each other to form retaining channels which are shallow when compared with the length of said sides, and wherein the length of at least one of the retaining channels is such that it extends beyond a line drawn at right angles to the longitudinal edge of the elongated strip by the thickness of the material of which the beam is made, so that the lower end of a dependent flange of a filler panel can be inserted downwardly and retained in said at least one retaining channel, with the upper end of the dependent flange in abutting relationship with the upper end of the adjacent converging side of the beam substantially at the adjacent longitudinal edge of the elongated strip.
 2. A constructional component as claimed in claim 1 in which the retaining channels on each component are of different dimensions so that the larger retaining channel is sufficient to accommodate the smaller retaining channel of another constructional component in which the smaller retaining channel has the length specified in claim
 1. 3. A component as claimed in claim 1 which contains uniformly spaced boltholes along the elongated strip thereof.
 4. A component as claimed in claim 3 in which the boltholes are contained in a longitudinally extending recess in the elongated strip.
 5. Shelving comprising a plurality of spaced constructional components as claimed in claim 1 and a plurality of filler panels having dependent flanges at the ends thereof, the lower ends of which are retained in the retaining channels of said constructional components.
 6. Shelving as claimed in claim 5 which is bolted to a framework.
 7. A framework comprising uprights and side members in which, the side members and uprights are formed from constructional components as claimed in claim 3 and in which the side members are fixed to the uprights by means of corner brackets.
 8. A framework as claimed in claim 7 which includes crossmembers formed from the constructional component of identical type to those forming the side members and uprights, the crossmembers extending between said side members at the same level as that of each side member and retained in position by means of removable brackets in the ends of the crossmembers, and brackets having a horizontal portion located beneath the elongated strip of said crossmember, a leg portion located in the retaining channel of the side member and a pair of flanges extending from the vertical edges of the leg portion and in the same direction as the horizontal portion located in retaining channels of the crossmember.
 9. Shelving comprising a plurality of spaced constructional components as claimed in claim 2 and a plurality of filler panels having dependent flanges at the ends, the lower ends of which are retained in the retaining channels of the said constructional components, which includes two constructional components in side-by-side relationship, the smaller retaining channel on one component being accommodated in the larger retaining channel of the other component. 